Commonwealth Pool takes the plunge into solar power

Published Date: 13 August 2008
By GARETH EDWARDS

SOLAR panels are to be installed on the roof of the Royal Commonwealth Pool to heat the water for its showers.
The flat black panels will cover an area bigger than a championship tennis court and cut the pool's water-heating bills by a third.The work is set to be carried out as the pool undergoes a £37 million refurbishment starting next June.The panels will pay for themselves within ten years by cutting the pool's energy bill.The solar power will provide enough hot water for showers and sinks but not enough to keep the pools warm. It will potentially save around 64 tonnes of C02 from entering the atmosphere every year.City sports leader councillor Deidre Brock said: "We want to develop the facility into a top- quality water sports hub for the city while reducing the carbon footprint of the building."Stuart Hay, energy futures manager at Changeworks, the Edinburgh-based sustainable development organisation, added: "Swimming pools are big energy-users so solar heating is definitely the way forward, especially with rising fuel prices and the need to cut carbon emissions."This move is to be commended – it's exactly the type of green energy project we need to see more of in the city."The pool's revamp will bring it up to the required standard for hosting the diving competition in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.The work is expected to see the flume tower at the back of the pool demolished. The flumes were removed in 2002.The major overhaul includes the introduction of "moving floors" in all the pools to adjust the depth. The main 50-metre swimming pool is due to be extended by 1.5 metres and will have a special boom so that it can be split into two 25-metre pools – allowing various different activities to take place at the same time. The overhauled diving area will have four platforms up to ten metres high, plus two temporary springboards, and a "dry dive" training area for competitors, with trampolines and harnesses to let them practise twists and turns. The project also includes a changing "village" with better family facilities, a brand new dry play area for children, pool-side showers, heated benches also next to the pools, and a revamped cafe.Work is scheduled to start in June next year, with the building expected to be closed for around two years.• www.edinburghleisure.co.uk